Egypt’s top security body has pledged support for Saudi Arabia amid an escalating conflict with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as the kingdom seeks military assistance from its allies to counter repeated drone and missile attacks.
The National Defence Council, chaired by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, agreed to provide “all possible forms of support” to help Saudi Arabia defend its security, according to a presidential statement issued Sunday. The announcement did not specify the nature of the assistance.
The move follows a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last month. El-Sissi on Saturday called on parliament to authorise the deployment of Egyptian troops and military equipment abroad.
Houthi attacks have targeted airports and oil infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, killing at least 19 people, disrupting thousands of flights and unsettling global markets. The drones and missiles, some capable of changing direction mid-flight, have posed significant challenges for air defence systems.
Meanwhile, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday to discuss strengthening cooperation, the UAE’s state news agency WAM reported. Relations between the two countries have been strained by their support for rival factions in Yemen’s conflict.
The renewed fighting has taken a heavy toll on civilians in both countries. In Yemen’s northern Saada province, an airstrike killed at least nine people, including five children and two women, and wounded 19 others, according to the Houthi-run Health Ministry. The rebels blamed Saudi Arabia, which did not immediately comment. The Associated Press could not independently verify the claims.
The Houthis also alleged that Saudi-led forces had carried out 110 missile or air attacks against civilian sites in Sanaa and other cities over the previous 24 hours.
In Saudi Arabia, a military helicopter crashed near Najran, killing its two crew members. A military spokesperson attributed the crash to a technical malfunction, although the Houthis claimed they had shot it down. Separately, a Houthi-fired projectile struck a residential area in Najran province, injuring six people, Saudi Civil Defence authorities said.
The Houthis have intensified attacks in response to Saudi support for Yemen’s internationally recognised government. They have also expanded their territorial control along the Red Sea coast near the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Oman proposed a five-day truce and talks to resolve the dispute, Houthi chief negotiator Mohamed Abdulsalam said, adding that the rebels were willing to halt attacks if Saudi Arabia met their humanitarian demands. Saudi Arabia has accused the Houthis of rejecting earlier efforts to negotiate.
Egypt’s Al-Azhar institution on Sunday called for an urgent mediation committee to help end conflicts across the Arab region.